The City Lights Collective
Discover the best of Atlanta's arts and culture on The City Lights Collective from WABE. Short stories, rich voices, and innovative ideas, presented by a team of local contributors. From music and theater to spoken word, food, film, and festivals, this is the pulse of Atlanta’s creative world.
Episodes
✦ When City Lights Collective co-host Jon Goode was told that High Bias is a good thing, he wasn't entirely sure what that meant. So, he decided to go to Block and Drum on a Wednesday night to find out for himself. Created by STLNDRMS, High Bias is a deep listening experience. Each week, they explore the highest level of music curation in a room designed for true fidelity. A fully treated space, an uncompromising sound system, and ...
✦ If you go to the Decatur Recreation Center on a Friday evening, you’ll see about 75 people dancing to a live fiddle band, and they look like the happiest people in town. City Lights Collective member Gillian Anne Renault learns more about Atlanta Contra Dance.
✦ Latinas in Media Atlanta, also known as LIMA, creates opportunities for Latine artists to tell untold stories from the Latin diaspora. Founded in 2017, the organiza...
For over a decade, Lois Reitzes made City Lights a welcoming home for Atlanta’s artists. Now, we’re opening the doors even wider and carrying on her legacy with a chorus of voices.
Welcome to The City Lights Collective, WABE’s new weekday show where you’ll discover the best of what Atlanta’s arts and culture scene has to offer. You’ll hear short stories, rich voices, and innovative ideas, present...
After more than 45 years at WABE, Lois Reitzes hosts her final episode of City Lights ahead of her retirement. In this grand finale, Lois is joined by her producers and very special guests, as they share heartfelt memories and celebrate her legacy as Atlanta's foremost champion of Arts and Culture.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lois presents the inaugural “Lois Reitzes Leader of the Arts Award.” Plus, Lois’s conversation with film scholar Eddy Von Mueller, recorded live at the Tara Theater this past Sunday, and Susan Booth, Artistic Director of the Goodman Theater in Chicago and former Alliance Theater Artistic Director, joins Lois for a final interview ahead of Lois’s retirement.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The saying 'never meet your heroes' does not apply to the Indigo Girls. Amy Ray and Emily Sailers will not disappoint, for they are as kind as they are talented. Last week, they left for a significant, multi-city tour that will run through the fall, yet they took the time to come to the WABE studio and record an interview with Lois to air during her final days at WABE before her retirement. This intimate conversation was recorded a...
Atlanta-born actor Danielle Deadwyler joins me to discuss her many projects, past, present, and future. Additionally, Dr. Scott Stewart and Lois reflect on his many years as a contributor and collaborator.
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The King of Pops is turning 15, and CEO and co-founder Steve Carse discusses his new book, “Work Is Fun: Seven Ways a Successful Ice Pop Company Makes Work Meaningful and How You Can Too.” Plus, playwright Jessica B. Hill and director Alexis Kulani Woodard detail “The Dark Lady,” which is on stage at Synchronicity Theatre now through June 29th.
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Sir Donald Runnicles, former principal guest conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, helps us celebrate 50 years of ASO broadcasts on WABE. Plus, comedian and improv artist Colin Mochrie, along with Kevin Gillese, Atlanta-based comic and producer, discuss Mochrie’s new live show – coming to Variety Playhouse on June 20.
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Actor Richard Kind stops by ahead of his upcoming July 19 performance at Symphony Hall, “How Not to Be Famous: A Conversation with Richard Kind.” Plus, librettist Selda Sahin, and the Atlanta Opera director of community engagement and education, Jessica Kiger discuss “Steele Roots” which makes its world premiere at the Atlanta Opera on June 20, followed by an encore performance June 22 at the Ray Charles Per...
Artist EuGene V. Byrd III discusses his Beltline West End Trail mural, “Works in Progress: An Honest Look at Fatherhood.” Plus, comedian, writer, and actor Lisa Ann Walter joins us ahead of her standup show at Helium Comedy Club on June 21.
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Comedian Ali Siddiq joins us ahead of his Atlanta performance at the Fox Theatre on June 13. Plus, Kosmo Vinyl shares the story of Gill-Scott Heron’s version of “Me and the Devil,” and we listen back to Lois’s 2023 conversation with Metropolitan Museum of Art president Daniel H. Weiss about his book, “Why the Museum Matters.”
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Atlanta Symphony Orchestra acting principal cellist Daniel Laufer joins Lois to celebrate 50 years of ASO broadcasts on WABE. Plus, travel expert Rick Steves stops by with tips on visiting lesser-traveled European countries.
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A new box Richard Pryor box set is out now on Rhino Records, and comedian and “What’s Good Atlanta” co-host Mark Kendall reflects on the icon’s legacy. Plus, Sarah Higgins, the executive and artistic director of Art Papers, discusses the decision to sunset the publication after 50 years, and we revisit Lois’s 2018 conversation with Atlanta playwright Pearl Cleage as part of our “Farewell Favorite...
“Young John Lewis” makes its world premiere at Theatrical Outfit. The hip-hop musical was written by Psalmayene 24 and composed by Eugene H. Russell IV. “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes speaks with both of them about this riveting new play. Additionally, we revisit Reitzes’ conversation with the author of “The Swans of Harlem” and a Black ballerina featured in the book. As part of the "City ...
Atlanta Opera’s artistic director, Tomer Zvulun, sits down with “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes to discuss the rare gem of Baroque opera, George Frideric Handel’s “Semele,” which will be on stage June 7, 10, 13, and 15. Plus, we spotlight the Atlanta band Shock Tea in our series “Speaking of Music.” And we revisit another “Farewell Favorite” conversation between Lois and f...
"Accentuate the Positive: The Music of Arlen and Mercer” is a concert-cabaret show premiering at The Breman this Sunday. Flying Carpet Theatre founder Adam Koplan and executive director of The Breman, Leslie Gordon discuss the timeless classics and melodies Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen wrote throughout their career. Plus, WABE music contributor Dr. Scott Stewart looks at the latest summer blockbuster soundtracks in &l...
“Young John Lewis” makes its world premiere at Theatrical Outfit. The hip-hop musical was written by Psalmayene 24 and composed by Eugene H. Russell IV. “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes speaks with both of them about this riveting new play. Additionally, we revisit Reitzes’ conversation with the author of “The Swans of Harlem” and a Black ballerina featured in the book. As part of the "City ...
Alice Hong, co-founder of the new Classical Remix Music Festival, joins us. The festival kicks off with three nights of music on June 8 at Leafmore Creek Park Club. On June 22, the festival will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and the event on June 27 will take place at the Historic Dekalb Courthouse.
Plus, in "Wildcat," the 2023 movie about the author Flannery O'Connor, we hear the question, "If imagination impacts reality...
When City Lights host Lois Reitzes announced her retirement from daily hosting earlier this year, she sat down with WABE's All Things Considered host Jim Burress to reflect on her broadcasting career. In this special edition of the City Lights podcast, we hear an extended version of their conversation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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